A graduate student in computer science has many responsibilities which change over time. Here is a pretty general statement of what it might take to succeed in a graduate program in computer science in the USA, or in our own graduate program at SBU.

To begin with: You should have a solid foundation in mathematics (calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, statistics) and computer science. You should be able to program. You should be able to read technical materials, to write technical papers and to think critically and analytically.

To get into a graduate program in computer science, you should have good grades (particularly good grades in technical or mathematical courses, an average of B+ or higher). You should have a compelling and well-written personal statement and very good reference letters. It is helpful if you have research experience and/or publications, but this is not required. You To get into a graduate program in computer science in the United States, you need good GRE scores (650 or higher on each section). Some schools require a GRE subject test.

You do not have to come from an Ivy League school. You do not have to have an undergraduate or graduate degree in computer science. You can be a man or a woman, and you can be from any country, any ethnicity and any religion.

You should look for: a computer science program that meets your needs. If you want a MS degree, look for a program that offers them. Otherwise, look for a program that offers a PhD. You want a program that offers students financial and secretarial support and a good library; look at the Computing Research Association's Taulbee survey to find information about good graduate programs. Most importantly, you want a program that has active faculty in your area(s) of interest; look at conferences and journals to find names, then contact students there for more information. If you have interdisciplinary interests, you should look for interdisciplinary programs or interdisciplinary faculty.

You should take the GRE in your junior year (and again in your senior year if there is a problem!). Applications are due starting in late November of your senior year.

In your first year: Some programs require you to take a certain set of courses, while others (e.g. Stony Brook's) require you to pass a set of exams. Get your hands on the graduate student handbook and learn it well. Concentrate on passing the requirements and forging a relationship with your advisor. If you have to be a teaching assistant, try to get it out of the way by the end of your third semester. Start reading conference and journal papers in your field.

In your second year: Most programs have a research proficiency requirement, second year paper or second year exam. Complete this requirement, and try to make it work for you by getting a workshop or conference paper out of it. Get involved in your advisor's lab, and work on a related research project with your advisor and/or a fellow student. Think about a thesis topic, and read the related work in that area. Also, become involved in your research community: volunteer for reviewing or conference work. At the end of this year you should have a very good idea of your field, and one-two publications.

Think about what type of career you want. Research? Teaching? Academia? Industry? You will target your thesis research, community service and other activities accordingly. Start collecting possible job locations.

In your third year: Really get going on your thesis research, focusing on publishable results. Work closely with your advisor. Become even more involved in your research community; before or after this year are good times to do a summer internship to broaden your connections. Publish as much as possible.

In your fourth and fifth years: Focus on your thesis research. Don't fall behind in the writing! Continue to publish and establish visibility. If you have no experience with grant proposal writing yet, ask your advisor to let you help write research proposals.

Good organizations to join or keep up with:

• ACM (job listings, digital library, community)
• CRA (job listings, other helpful information)

• The Ph.D. Process: A Student's Guide to Graduate School in the Sciences, by Dale F. Bloom, Jonathan D. Karp and Nicholas Cohen.
• A Ph.D. Is Not Enough: A Guide to Survival in Science, by Peter J. Feibelman.
• Tomorrow's Professor: Preparing for Careers in Science and Engineering, by Richard M. Reis.